Azalea japonica 'STEWARTSTONIAN'

Gable azalea hybrids come from Pennsylvania, USA, and were developed by Joe Gable. The results are very hardy crosses of evergreen azaleas with extended flowering period and more reliably evergreen foliage in winter.

Stewartstonian is becoming the most sought-after evergreen azalea with red flowers. The red is soft, almost orangey red, as far as we can talk about orange in Japanese azaleas. It grows moderately and forms a fairly compact shrub that does not need to be pruned.

Slightly glossy leaves are ovate, small, and dark green in spring and summer, changing to mahogany brown or burgundy red in autumn and winter. Its winter leave persistence is excellent not only in semi-shade and shade, it loses only a few portion of leaves in full sun.

Japanese azaleas can be clipped to shapes in early June. If so, do not use fertilizers enhancing growth rate. The size of new branches would get out hand and spoil the shape you are going to achieve. They need light, permeable soil that is acid, constantly moist (keep azaleas mulched at all times) and moderately fertile. Use fertilizers for rhododendrons and azaleas, or ericaceous plants. The best soil mix is 1/3 of peat, 1/3 of leaf-mould or lime-free compost, and 1/3 of soil from the hole where you are going to plant it. Azaleas have shallow roots, so do not plant them too deep. They are fully hardy to about -29°C (USDA zone 5).

Last update 19-01-2008.